U.S. navy bombs Kharg Island, Iran’s primary oil export hub : NPR

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Jalaa Marey/AFP by way of Getty Photos President Trump mentioned on Friday the U.S. navy had "completely obliterated each MILITARY goal in Iran's crown jewel, Kharg Island."

In a Reality Social submit Friday night, Trump added that "for causes of decency, I've chosen NOT to wipe out the Oil Infrastructure on the island." The president warned that if Iran "or anybody else" intervene with the passage of ships within the Strait of Hormuz, "I'll instantly rethink this determination."

Kharg Island sits 15 miles off Iran's coast and is crucial to Iran's oil infrastructure and the nation's financial system. Roughly 90 % of Iran's export crude oil passes by the island.

On his technique to Mar-a-Lago in Florida shortly earlier than his submit, Trump advised reporters, "The scenario in Iran goes very effectively. Quite a lot of massive hits at present, loads of massive wins at present." Requested how lengthy he thinks the battle would final, he mentioned, "I am unable to inform you that. I imply, I've my very own concept, however what good does it do? It is going to be so long as it is necessary. They have been decimated. The nation — their nation's in dangerous form. The entire thing is collapsing."

Earlier on Friday, the U.S. navy had mentioned that every one six crew members had been killed when a KC-135 refueling plane went down in Iraq, elevating the American demise toll after two weeks of battle with Iran.

The information got here as President Trump and his protection secretary touted the success of what they name Operation Epic Fury however complained about detrimental media protection of the U.S.-Israeli battle with Iran.

Protection Secretary Pete Hegseth mentioned Friday that joint U.S.-Israeli navy strikes have hit greater than 15,000 targets and injured the brand new Iranian supreme chief.

President Trump, in a submit on Reality Social, mentioned the U.S. is "completely destroying" Iran's regime, militarily and economically.

<img src="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/1100/quality/50/format/jpeg/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F8d%2F673b928d4ea6850bd140de4aae60%2Fgettyimages-2265919384.jpg" data-template="https://npr.brightspotcdn.com/dims3/default/strip/false/crop/1024x683+0+0/resize/{width}/quality/{quality}/format/{format}/?url=http%3A%2F%2Fnpr-brightspot.s3.amazonaws.com%2Fcf%2F8d%2F673b928d4ea6850bd140de4aae60%2Fgettyimages-2265919384.jpg" class="img" alt="A woman looks at a building where an apartment was targeted by an Israeli airstrike in the Burj Hammoud area on the northern outskirts of Beirut on March 14, 2026." loading="lazy"/> A girl appears to be like at a constructing the place an condo was focused by an Israeli airstrike within the Burj Hammoud space on the northern outskirts of Beirut on March 14, 2026. Ibrahim Amro/AFP by way of Getty Photos cover caption

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Ibrahim Amro/AFP by way of Getty Photos Iranian and Lebanese well being officers and Israeli authorities reported greater than 1,300 folks killed in Iran, 773 folks in Lebanon and 12 civilians in Israel, in addition to two Israeli troopers killed in Lebanon. Wednesday's plane crash over Iraq brings the U.S. navy demise toll to 13, seven of whom had been killed by enemy fireplace. Eight U.S. service members are severely injured, in response to the Pentagon.

The humanitarian toll additionally deepened as the full variety of folks displaced by the combating in Iran and Lebanon reached into the tens of millions.

Listed here are additional updates in regards to the battle.

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U.S. casualties | Extra battle forward

U.S. casualties rise and extra Marines head to Mideast The U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) mentioned Friday all six crew members died when their refueling plane went down over Iraq.

CENTCOM, which oversees the navy's Center East operations, initially reported an unspecified incident involving two plane Thursday. It mentioned the U.S. KC-135 refueling plane was misplaced in western Iraq, whereas the opposite landed safely. It's investigating the circumstances however confirmed the "lack of the plane was not as a consequence of hostile fireplace or pleasant fireplace."

That brings the U.S. navy demise toll to 13, seven of whom had been killed by enemy fireplace, in response to the Pentagon.

NPR has additionally confirmed that a further 2,200 U.S. Marines are heading to the Center East.

The thirty first Marine Expeditionary Unit based mostly in Okinawa, Japan, aboard the united statesTripoli, an amphibious assault ship, will be part of an armada of ships collaborating within the Iran battle, a supply advised NPR on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren't approved to talk publicly. The supply didn't specify what position the Marines will play.

The deployment was first reported by The Wall Road Journal.

— NPR's Nationwide Safety Desk

Officers brace for an finish with no deal — and the chance of a "battle routine" A senior official within the area, talking on situation of anonymity as a result of they weren't approved to debate inside deliberations, advised NPR they anticipated the battle to final a minimum of one other week, and that Israeli leaders more and more consider the U.S. and Israel will finish the battle unilaterally, with no negotiated settlement. In such a state of affairs, the official mentioned, Iran and allied teams, together with the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and Houthi rebels in Yemen, might set up a brand new regular of intermittent fireplace at Israel, prompting repeated Israeli retaliation.

The official mentioned that type of tit-for-tat change would go away Israelis residing with an insupportable "battle routine" even when the depth of the battle fades.

The official additionally mentioned Israel shouldn't be ruling out an expanded floor operation in southern Lebanon, however described Israel as holding again so removed from placing broad civilian infrastructure, largely as a result of the U.S. sees Lebanon as a accomplice.